Shining a light on the recent World Drowning Prevention Day, representatives from Water Safety Ireland’s local committee joined with Cllr Frankie Keenato reflect upon and acknowledge the occasion.
Water Safety Ireland is encouraging members of the local public to embrace the colour blue and try to learn one new water safety skill. Both locally and nationally, children have been learning to throw ringbouys, while videos of lifeguards narrating local lifesaving stories have been shared online with actor Liam Neeson adding his voice for the campaign.
It is important to remember that most drownings happen in rivers and lakes, and thanks to Iarnród Éireann, the railway bridge often referred to as “The White Bridge” turned blue to mark World Drowning Prevention Day.
Spanning over 500 feet from the Leinster side of the town to the Connaught side, the iconic railway bridge has been a focal part of Athlone’s skyline since the 1850s where trains have criss-crossed the country east and west as boats below moved north and south.
A little further down, and also illuminated blue, the new cycleway bridge was testing lights that night and will add an interesting view of the railway bridge when it opens on August 8, a welcome addition along the boardwalk.
At Athlone Boat Club, Padraig Hegarty was happy to show us inside and discuss some of the history of the club, which was a welcome reminder of some of the recreational activities that take place on the river. Founded in 1837, the Boat Club predates the railway bridge and far from the Shannon, Mr Hegarty proudly showed me a 9.4 metre double scull, made of carbon and Kevlar honeycomb composite, that was used in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
It is easy to forget all the activities that take place along the river, and the history that has taken place there too. From Vikings, whiskey brewing, monks, the Woollen Mills, and Aubrey de Vere verses of ‘The Ballad of Athlone’ set on the Town Bridge in 1691.
As Cllr Frankie Keena kindly took a picture of my father and I by the illuminated blue bridge, I was reminded that my own family all became lifesaving instructors because my parents chose to learn to swim when my older brother was learning to swim. It is not too late to make your own history and learn some lifesaving skills, as the Water Safety Ireland campaign emphasises, ‘anyone can drown, nobody should.’
Maybe it is time to take a lesson or find out about Athlone Regional Sports Centre’s Water Safety Weeks that take place three times a year, during Easter, in July and August.
Lifesaving skills are skills for life and water safety courses include CPR and resuscitation. Even if you only learn the importance of getting help and calling 112 or 999 or learn how to throw a ringbouy or give resuscitation, learn one skill this week to mark the event or visit www.watersafety.ie for more details.
Athlone Sub Aqua have been based by the railway bridge for half a century where they their members have learnt to dive but have also provided much needed water cover on the river. The RNLI came to our shores a little over a decade ago and we also have a River Safety Awareness group in Athlone, who I believe had also requested that the bridge be illuminated blue on the day, so there are plenty of ways to get involved, and play a part.
World Drowning Prevention Day is a UN based event which commenced in 2021 and will hopefully grow in popularity in Athlone over the years, now that the light has been illuminated.
